If you go to http://www.esrb.com, there are definitions of what their terms mean. “Mature Sexual Themes” is defined to mean “provocative material, possibly including partial nudity”. Well, we know that TSO’s graphics don’t seriously contain partial nudity, so the reference must have been to “provocative material”, which seems to me to be an appropriate descriptor for the game as it is played. Interestingly, the general definition for the “T” rating does not include “mature sexual themes” but merely “suggestive themes”, which is defined to me “mild provocative reference or themes”, while the general definition for the “M” rating does include the reference to “mature sexual themes”, and the “A” rating is reserved for “graphic depictions of sex and/or violence”.

Taken in this context, it seems to me that a few points may be gleaned:

First, it seems that the disclosure on the box is appropriate. The reference to “mature sexual themes” is pretty direct and also missing from almost any other “T” rating I have come across. I think that it goes a long way to warning folks. I suspect that the reason that TSO did not get the M rating was because of the tameness of the graphics, which do not contain any graphical nudity or partial nudity, and nothing more physically stirring than kissing, which was also available in the offline version of the game. My guess is that the ESRB went with the T rating because the graphics were tame, but added the (for T strange) caveat relating to mature sexual themes to highlight that, in connection with the online nature of the game, there may be mature sexual themes discussed, but that is it. In light of all of that, the rating on the box does not seem inappropriate to me or inconsistent with how other games have been rated.

When I look at the most common “M” games I am aware of, I am often puzzled at the rating. GTA is probably the least puzzling, given that the game itself is horrificly violent in a wanton and graphic manner, and the depictions of sex — almost all of which involve prostitution — are more graphic than in any other commercially distributed game I have seen. BMX XXX got its M rating because it decided to reward players with video clips from strip joints in NYC — classy(?!?), and it deserved the M for this (and seems to have been chasing the M rating). DOA Volleyball doesn’t seem to deserve the M rating unless pixelated portrayals of anime-style women in bathing suits is a mature sexual theme — don’t really see the difference between that and the SI swimsuit issue, to be honest, but in light of all of this it makes me think that the esrb is really interested in the GRAPHICS more than anything else, and, at least in the sexual area, the more revealing and/or suggestive that they are, the more likely you will get an “M” rating. This probably explains wht TSO did not receive anything more than a “T” — the graphics are tame — but nevertheless earned the odd reference to “mature sexual themes” anyway.

I think that the fact of the matter is that online games are difficult to predict. Let’s look at Star Wars Galaxies, for example. One wouldn’t think that issues similar to those decried here for TSO would also present themselves there, but the cantinas — especially in the new player-designed cities — present an interesting counterpoint. For the most part what happens there is very straightforward — entertainers dance and play music and the fighter types are healed of mental wounds. But every now and then, something more happens — a fighter finds a particular entertainer attractive and may proposition her, if you will, for an exchange of services in return for a hefty tip, if you know what I mean. I’m not saying that this is common, but it isn’t unheard of either, and it wasn’t what Sony intended for the game, but nevertheless it is possible with the technology and so it happens. That’s an example of saying that experience may differ in online play. In an online environment where people are free to exchange notes and messages in public and private, there isn’t really any way to control what they are saying to each other. If it is the case that every game that offers this possibility is problematic because of the potential for X-rated talk to occur, then we should perhaps be discussing a separate rating for online games in general, something like “OL” or the like.

A related issue arises when considering games that are not distributed retail. Second Life and There, for example, are not distributed in retail outlets but only over the internet, and therefore they have *no* rating. What to do with these? DO we mandate that they also be rated? Second Life does not *feature* nudity, but it is possible. There are areas of the game that are “PG” and areas that are “mature”, but there is no policing system to keep people *out* of mature areas — rather it is designed to let people know if they do not wish to go to those areas where more mature content is permitted — like clubs with pixelated exotic dancers, shops featuring pornographic artwork, fetish clothing and the like. “There” does not feature this kind of thing graphically, but has mature content in any case, including BDSM clubs, escort services auctions and the like. And, in fact, the only game I have ever seen that I would say hands down deserved the “A” rating — ‘Sociolotron’, which I didn’t find very compelling as a game, btw — ironically doesn’t get any rating because it is distributed online. Although Sociolotron attempts to restrict itself to 21+ by bank account verification, Second Life and There do not do this and are essentially open fields which, at least in the case of SL, contain much more graphical content by far than TSO. What do we do about these kinds of non-retail games and virtual worlds? They aren’t subject to the esrb’s ratings system, but yet they attract many of the same people to them because they are, in concept, similar.

Kelli

it is not the Lots that are the issue here it is not the lifestyle of what we take on in game that is the issue.. it is the laziness of people that is the issue here.. we are too lazy to question who we are interacting with… if a man is with a 13 year old that is wrong because the man and 13 old allow it to happen.. will imposing drastic changes in game stop this? nope might slow it down some until they switch to AIM ICQ Yahoo….

As a former mass player online in game public rep I was in charge of training others in game to handle customer complaints and issues with the game.. we had a age guideline.. this was verified by sending in a drivers liscense copy to the headquarters before being accepted into the program.. after I had left the program I found out that alot of those I trained were under age for the program.. how did they get in then? simple they borrowed their Sisters Brother Mom Dad drivers liscense and copied it and sent it in..

Making an Adult server will only be the same thing it will not fix the problem.. age restrictions are soo easy to get around after all how many of the 13 year olds playing TSO use their own credit cards? they dont and it is standard pratice to use CC info as proof of age in sex sites… reason kids do not use it as such is because parents would notice a charge from xxx girls guys in the nudes… the ONLY way to protect kids is to teach them and those that interact with them that it is wrong to do sexual activity and that is the parents job not ours… course we can pull the plug on TSO and then they will find another avenue to explore…

“Most of my reasons for this are directly related to the paraphilia subject and the people that fall under that category. I am not trying to classify people but do 13 year olds need to be exposed to BDSM content? Should a 13 year old be following around a 35 year old man calling him Master? I think not.”

I believe the word you are Groping for is “Pedophelia”.

But, I understand your point, and you are quite right.

Maria.

Most of my reasons for this are directly related to the paraphilia subject and the people that fall under that category. I am not trying to classify people but do 13 year olds need to be exposed to BDSM content? Should a 13 year old be following around a 35 year old man calling him Master? I think not.

What it boils down to is that often times parents are not paying attention to the “online” world in which their child might be caught up in. You cannot protect them from everything however you can do your best to avoid putting them in situations they are not mature enough to deal with. Kids play in chatrooms on something as simple as yahoo and all it takes is creating an ID and an adult can once again prey on children. Perhaps this is more of a parenting challenge than anything.

This might make some of you laugh or see the reality in all of this… It amused me because it’s so very true!

http://www.chryslermdff.com/player/player_media.asp?filmID=102&downloadRate=hi&MediaType=wm

It’s a short film called The Parlor.

Chrysler actually promotes a film festival for short films etc. Interesting stuff if you choose to creat an account there.

Have a great evening!

Makes people take responsibility for themselves, and frees up the game company from any crap as they have stated it’s a free world, and it’s up to you where you go and what you see. not them. it’s WIN-WIN. =)

- RB

Kelli